CUPE Nova Scotia

COVID-19: Provincial and Federal Updates; Measures to prevent exposure at the workplace

March 25, 2020

PROVINCIAL UPDATE

There are now 68 cases of COVID-19 in Nova Scotia. Everyone who tested positive has a history of travel outside of NS/Canada or exposure to someone who has traveled.
There is no community spread so far.
Persons who are experiencing anxiety are encouraged to ask for help, reach out.
For help with mental health concerns: Mental Health Crisis Line: 1-888-429-8167
Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868

FEDERAL MEASURES: Canada Emergency Response Benefit

The Canada Emergency Response Benefit will cover people who have lost their job, people who are sick or quarantined, and parents who must stay home without pay to care for children. The benefit also covers workers who have no income due to the economic slowdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It will cover employees, contract workers, and self-employed workers to the tune of $2,000 per month for the next four months, backdated to March 15, 2020. Laid-off workers who have applied for EI due to coronavirus-related job losses will instead get this $2,000 benefit for up to four months, after which they will be switched-over to standard EI if they are still out of work.

COVID-19 UPDATE: March 24, 2020

March 24, 2020

Below is the latest information from the provincial government on COVID-19. Up-to-date information on the coronavirus, including symptoms and how to stop transmission is available at: https://cupe.ca/coronavirus.

If you have any concerns about your job or the coronavirus please do not hesitate to contact your union. This is a very stressful time for many of us, especially those providing essential services, and we appreciate your efforts to keep the rest of us safe. Please take care of yourselves and each other.

Health Coalitions’ Joint Statement on COVID-19 and Public Health Care

March 24, 2020March 24, 2020

Health Coalitions’ Joint Statement on COVID-19 and Public Health Care

The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare the extent to which our individual health is dependent on the health of everyone in our community. Public healthcare is our best defence against this crisis and others like it. However, our ability to endure crises and care for each other has been eroded through decades of austerity budgets, privatization and inadequate planning. Even during “normal times,” the health care system is at capacity.

While health care workers and communities are struggling to support each other, corporate interests are trying to profit. This must be resisted. The solution is not privatization. Instead, we should be strengthening universal health care and our collective ability to care for one another.